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New York, NY | LPN Nursing Program Information

How to Become an LPN in New York

Before applying to a Licensed Practical Nurse program, prerequisite college courses must be completed, usually results in around 30 credit hours or six months of study. From psychology and communication to physiology and biology, courses focus on both mental as well as physical health and interpersonal training. It is necessary to do well in these courses—although minimum requirements for entry can be as low as a C average, entry into nursing programs is highly competitive and grades are the biggest factor in deciding who gets into the best programs.

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State-approved LPN programs in New York typically take around a year to complete. Available at private institutions like hospitals and clinics, as well as colleges and universities, there is significant variance in entry requirements based on school guidelines, so it is good to be familiar with what is expected of a prospective LPN before applying to your school of choice. Although each nursing school has different requirements for entry, a typical LPN program requires around 60 credit hours of schoolwork in a traditional institution, which takes a year of full time study. In New York, at least a nine month program is required to obtain an LPN license. The New York State Board of Nursing charges $143 for application to take the exam and for initial licensure, which includes an evaluation of any previous criminal record—it is important to note that a New York LPN must ‘be of good moral character’, and a criminal record may stand in the way of approval, so it is best to check with a nursing program before applying if you have a record as to whether it may stand in the way of approval. Then, the exam itself costs $200 to take through Pearson Vue.

Once a student has received their official passing results from the New York State Board of Nursing, they are eligible to begin working as a Licensed Practical Nurse in New York—a license that 3,900 new LPNs received in 2008.

New York LPN Nursing Jobs and Salary Information

While close to two thirds of Licensed Practical Nurses in New York work in hospitals, there are many other settings where LPNs may be employed such as doctor’s offices, retirement homes, and even private homes. With high demand for nurses and a growing workforce of almost 70,000 Licensed Practical Nurses, the average salary for an LPN in New York is around $45,000 (according to BLS.gov), and much higher in New York City. In addition, full time LPNs usually receive good benefits such as health, dental and more. Although the New York economy may be down, demand for LPNs remains high and it is only expected to grow as many nurses reach retirement age.

Typically, LPNs in New York assist both registered nurses and doctors in patient treatment. In fact, around 90 percent of LPNs in the state are engaged in direct patient care. Their usual responsibilities include essential day-to-day care such as monitoring vital signs, administering medicine, and so on. They may also be responsible for other types of bedside care such as feeding, bathing, collecting samples and maintaining medical equipment. Because LPN’s work directly with patients, they must also be emotionally prepared to help people through hardship—an important part of any patient care work.

A typical work week for an LPN in New York involves around 40 hours on the clock. However, patients need care around the clock and this can mean LPNs sometimes work nights, weekends and holidays and even split shifts. Although this doesn’t work for everyone, it can be the perfect fit for nurses who appreciate a flexible schedule due to other commitments such as family, school and so on.